Stand Before the World with Faith

Faith is much more than the sum total of everything we believe. Faith describes the stance we take before the world and the way in which we engage the world. Faith flows out of the belief that each one of us matters and that we exist to share God's life. In order to remain confident in this truth, we must allow Jesus to say this to us again and again and again. We must give the Lord the opportunity to affirm this truth and to express this truth in the unique conditions and circumstances of our existence. Prayer is the way we allow him to speak the words our hearts long to hear.

—from Prayer Everywhere: The Spiritual Life Made Simple

✞Quote "The Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of one poor little person to save a multitude of others, redeemed like her at the price of His Blood." — St. Therese of Lisieux

✞ MEDITATION OF THE DAY "Although our Divine Redeemer was the Lord and Master of all the riches of Heaven and earth, He willed nevertheless to become poor in this world that through His example we might become rich. He wished to induce us to love poverty as He did, for poverty, by detaching us from earthly riches, enables us to share in the treasures of Heaven. ... [It is] the teaching of our Blessed Lord that the poor in spirit shall have a great and certain reward. Their reward is certain, for when our Savior enumerated the Beatitudes in the Gospel, He referred in most instances to the future ... but to the poor in spirit, He promises happiness even in this life: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is teh kingdom of heaven.' (Matt. 5:3). While here on earth, they receive special graces. The reward of the poor in spirit is, secondly, very great. 'The less we have here,' says St. Teresa, 'the greater will be our joy in Heaven, where our dwelling shall correspond to the love with which we imitated the life of poverty of our Divine Master here on earth'. The truly poor in spirit enjoy a heavenly peace even here in this world. ... [He] who is poor from choice despises the possessions of this earth and is at the same time the master of all." — St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 122 AN EXCERPT FROM 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation

✞ VERSE OF THE DAY "Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 3:6

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ST. CAMILLUS

St. Camillus de Lellis (1550–1614) was a wild, undisciplined youth who became a battle-hardened soldier with a violent temper and a gambling addiction. His bad behavior, combined with a persistent war wound in his leg, left him in poverty. He found work doing odd jobs at a Capuchin friary. Gradually the good influence of the friars inspired him to a better life, and he experienced a true conversion. He sought to join the Franciscans, but was prevented due to his leg wound. He then moved to Rome and worked for a hospital that cared for patients with incurable illnesses. He later became its director as he continued a life of penance and virtue. Seeing that his patients often received poor attention from hospital staff, he devoted his life to providing excellent care for the sick, in whom he saw the face of Christ. He established a religious order of men committed to helping patients who were the most ill, even at the risk of their own well-being, known as the Order of St. Camillus, or the Camillians. For this task he studied for the priesthood and was ordained at the late age of 34. His order gave medical care to anyone in need of treatment. In addition to serving in hospitals, they also served on the battlefield. The Camillians developed into a worldwide relief effort of like-minded medical workers who seek to follow Christ through ministering to the sick. The large red cross on his habit became an international symbol of charitable medical aid. St. Camillus is the patron of the sick, hospitals, nurses, and physicians. His feast day is July 18th.

Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Is 10:5-7, 13b-16

Thus says the LORD: Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger, my staff in wrath. Against an impious nation I send him, and against a people under my wrath I order him To seize plunder, carry off loot, and tread them down like the mud of the streets. But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; Rather, it is in his heart to destroy, to make an end of nations not a few.

For he says: "By my own power I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I am shrewd. I have moved the boundaries of peoples, their treasures I have pillaged, and, like a giant, I have put down the enthroned. My hand has seized like a nest the riches of nations; As one takes eggs left alone, so I took in all the earth; No one fluttered a wing, or opened a mouth, or chirped!"

Will the axe boast against him who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it? As if a rod could sway him who lifts it, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send among his fat ones leanness, And instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15 R. (14a) The Lord will not abandon his people. Your people, O LORD, they trample down, your inheritance they afflict. Widow and stranger they slay, the fatherless they murder. R. The Lord will not abandon his people. And they say, "The LORD sees not; the God of Jacob perceives not." Understand, you senseless ones among the people; and, you fools, when will you be wise? R. The Lord will not abandon his people. Shall he who shaped the ear not hear? or he who formed the eye not see? Shall he who instructs nations not chastise, he who teaches men knowledge? R. The Lord will not abandon his people. For the LORD will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance; But judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it. R. The Lord will not abandon his people

Alleluia Mt 11:25 R. Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 11:25-27

At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

Meditation: Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15

Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest (Optional Memorial)

The Lord will not abandon his people.

"Lord, I know that you will never abandon me. You will never withdraw your protection, support, or help. That's not who you are. You are a God who protects, supports, and heals.

The Lord will not abandon his people.

"When I look back at my life and those times of crisis, I see that you have always been with me. When a sudden new medical condition made me feel vulnerable, you were with me. When I experienced a financial setback, you helped me through it. When I was grieving for a loved one, you wept with me. You were with me through it all. You carried me when I could not walk on my own. As I recount these times, I am filled with joy. You are an awesome God!

The Lord will not abandon his people.

"Lord, when I am tempted to doubt your presence, help me to remember all the times you stood by my side. Help me not listen to the devil's lies as he tries to convince me that you do not care. When I am faced with new challenges, I want to respond with faith. I want to stand on the truth of who you are: a faithful, merciful Father who is always with his people, even in their darkest hour, even when they turn from you.

The Lord will not abandon his people.

"Jesus, you know what it's like to be human. You know what it feels like to be abandoned by your friends. You know that my fears and anxieties can lead me to feel abandoned as well. I know my feelings may rise and fall like the sea, with peace one moment followed by tumult the next. In those times, help me to rise above my emotions and cling to the truth: you will never leave me to fend for myself.

The Lord will not abandon his people.

"Lord, the next time I face challenging circumstances, I promise to keep my eyes fixed on who you are and how you want to work in my life. I will cling to your promise to be with me always. I will recite it again and again, like the response for today's Responsorial Psalm: 'The Lord will not abandon his people'!

"Father, you hold all things together, including me. Lord, I trust in you!"

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16 Matthew 11:25-27

my2cents: "And instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire." Jesus came and said "I have come to set the world on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze" but first He would have to undergo a baptism...of death. A chalice He would take. The 4th cup. The cup that would allow Him to say "it is finished". 3 cups He had taken with the disciples, the apostles. This is our lives. Are we ready for the last cup of salvation? Dr. Scott Hahn wrote a book about the 4th cup, which took him a few decades to come together to write this. It is by far the most confounding cup. The deepest plunge of faith, as if being baptized with water, blood...and fire all at once. And Jesus wants it, so the world would be set ablaze. The fire of God's love is alive. One way or the other, His will shall be done.

Let us pray: "The Lord will not abandon his people. For the LORD will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance; But judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it. " Psalm 34:17 says "The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out of all their troubles. " The Lord hears the cry of the Lord, blessed be the Lord. May the lowly hear and be glad, rejoice ever in the Lord.

Our Lord enters our lives today by the Word: ""I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth". God is teaching us to give praise to Him. Praise God right? Praise God. The hard part, is praising in the storm. How can I lift my hands, raise my hands in praise to Him, when my heart is down. How can I give praise when I can barely speak? How can I give praise when my mind is not focused. If I have no strength, then I will ask for some. If I have a heavy heart, I ask our Lord to help me lift it up. If I have no faith, I will pray like the man pleading for his son "I believe; help my unbelief!" Mk 9:24. There is a remedy for everything, and it is God. He is the beginning and the end. It all comes back to Him, everything. Our part, the tremendous plunge of faith. "...you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike." There are non-believers who are believing they are wise and that's all it takes. So wise, they know God. So wise they know better. These are lies from the pits of hell. On the contrary, there are those completely opposite. They don't claim to know God, therefore, they fear God. These are holy people. This is what our Lord is calling us to. And so, these in holiness, in complete emptiness, can begin to see our Lord Jesus, and when we see Him, we see God. Revelations.

I open the book "Imitation of Christ" by Kempis. I read now on the Blessed Sacrament: "Who can come humbly to the fountain of sweetness without carrying away with them some of its sweetness? Or who can stand by a blazing fire and not feel some of its heat? You, O Lord, are a fountain, ever full and overflowing, a fire always burning and never dying out....If I cannot be entirely spiritual, and like the Cherubim and Seraphim, be on fire with charity, I will try at least to be sincere in my devotion and to prepare my heart, so that through the humble reception of this life-giving Sacrament, I may catch some small spark of the divine fire. O Jesus, my holy Savior, from Your gracious kindness, supply what is wanting in me, for You did not refuse to call all to Yourself, saying: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and overburdened, and I will give you rest" Mt. 11:28 You Who have prepared Your Body and Blood for my food and drink, save me, receive me, for the praise and glory of Your Name, and bring me to everlasting life. Grant me, O Lord, my Savior, a daily increase in devotion, through the frequent reception of Your sacred mystery. "

For questions or comments contact Adrian@going4th.com. For more go to www.Going4th.com